Zdeno Chara retired three years ago and hasn’t been involved in hockey since. But now, he’s expected to return to the NHL, and fans couldn’t be more thrilled.
Zdeno Chara is one of the greatest defensemen of all time. When he signed with the Boston Bruins, he was named captain upon arrival. Chara won a Norris Trophy with the Bruins and lifted the Stanley Cup as their captain in 2011. The tallest player in NHL history also holds the league record for most games played by a defenseman, with 1,652.
Chara retired in 2022, signing a one-day contract with the Bruins to officially retire in Boston. This year marks his first year of eligibility for the Hockey Hall of Fame, and it would be a massive surprise if he is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Zdeno Chara returns to the NHL
When Chara retired, he expressed a desire to return to the Bruins in some capacity. However, he has since stepped away from hockey, spending much of his time… running. But now, one of the biggest legends in Bruins history is expected to return to the franchise in an advisory role, serving as a mentor to Bruins players.
“The Boston Bruins are excited to be exploring the opportunity to welcome Zdeno Chara in an advisory role that supports our players and coaches,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a statement earlier this week. “We have had an open invitation and ongoing dialogue with Zdeno to return in some capacity whenever he felt it was right for both him and his family. Zdeno recently indicated he has an interest in helping and being involved. While his schedule and role are still unfolding, we believe he can make a positive impact on the organization as a mentor to our players and advisor to our coaching staff.”
READ MORE: Montreal Canadiens all shake hands with Marc-Andre Fleury
